Howie Hawkins announced his plans to run for New York state governor under the Green Party in front of East High School Thursday morning. Hawkins said he chose East High as the place for his announcement because the school is slated to be closed by the Board of Regents, and it’s an example of the problems Gov. Cuomo has created by underfunding local schools and anti-poverty programs.
Howie Hawkins Announces Run for Governor, Seeks Green Party Nomination
CNY Vision, Thu, Apr 10, 2014
Howie Hawkins announced his plans to run for New York state governor under the Green Party in front of East High School Thursday morning.
Hawkins said he chose East High as the place for his announcement because the school is slated to be closed by the Board of Regents, and it’s an example of the problems Gov. Cuomo has created by underfunding local schools and anti-poverty programs.
Hawkins, who ran on a platform of a Green New Deal, finished third in the 2010 governor's race. His 2010 campaign called for the state to invest in the transition to a carbon-neutral economy as a way to provide living-wage jobs for New Yorkers. His job creation program also included investments in education, infrastructure, mass transit, sustainable agriculture and public jobs.
He opposed the austerity budget proposals and tax cuts for the one percent promoted by his opponents.
In addition, Hawkins campaigned for a ban on hydrofracking, and a transition to a carbon-neutral economy within 15 years.
He has been critical of this year's budget, with its support for more tax cuts for the rich and charter schools; underfunding of education, mass transit, human services, jobs, environment and anti-poverty programs; and inaction to end the culture of corruption at the Capitol.
He has also called for a $15 an hour minimum wage, and allowing local communities to set their own minimum wage and taxes.
Hawkins is a former Marine and co-founder of the anti-nuclear Clamshell Alliance. Currently, he works at UPS, unloading trucks, where he is a member of Teamsters Local 317 and active in several organizations.
He received 40 percent of the vote in his recent run for Syracuse City Council.
The Green Party’s statewide nominating convention will be held in the Capital District on May 17.
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